Justice (16 page)

“Pretty sure he could shake a stick at any number of people,” Oscar groused. “I have never for the life of me understood that saying.”

“Yeah, well, don’t disparage it. It’s been around for ages.”

“Doesn’t mean it needs to keep being around.” Oscar tipped his chin towards his own cabin. “So I was thinking, maybe we could have y’all over for lunch or dinner. I can tie Jo up if it’ll make Paul feel safer. We’d both enjoy that, don’t know about you and Paul.”

“That is way too much info, perv. And before you tell me bondage doesn’t make you a perv, let me say I agree. Telling your cousin about those kind of details, however…” He trailed off and laughed when Oscar flipped him the bird. “I’ll talk to Paul. He’s with Viv right now, but they should be finishing up soon. Hey. Aren’t you the family protector or something like that?”

“Something like that,” Oscar agreed. “Why?”

Justice arched his back. His ass was pleasantly sore from Paul fucking him earlier that morning. For a guy who’d never thought to bottom, Justice was quickly becoming addicted to it. He pulled his mind out of the gutter. “I guess I’m wondering why you’re not out hunting down the wolf shifters who hurt Paul.”

Oscar stood up and looked down at him. “It’s my understanding someone’s already doing that. I was told by Remus not to interfere in that. When Remus speaks, you’d best listen. The man is not to be trifled with. So here I am, protecting my family this way. We’ll be starting patrols in the forest and all over the property tomorrow. I just haven’t been able to get everyone organised yet, but damn it, I’ll do so by this evening.”

Oscar held out his hand. Justice shook it. “You let me know about lunch or dinner. Text, come over, e-mail, yell. Whatever.”

“Will do.” Justice watched his cousin jog off. Oscar wasn’t as standoffish as he’d thought. Justice certainly bore more of the blame for them not being close, since he was the elder of them.

He was learning more about himself and his family every day. More about Paul, too. Paul was complicated, amazing, sometimes snarky, but at the core, he had a good heart. He’d lost himself when he’d been held as a slave, but he was discovering himself a piece or two at a time. Justice really liked the man emerging.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Justice took the phone out and answered it, his pulse speeding up when he saw the Chief’s number on the screen.

“Yes sir,” he started with. Chief Warren didn’t let him get any further than that.

“Chalmers, I’m going to have to let you go. I can’t give you any more time. HR will have my head, the union will be on my ass and between the two, there won’t be shit left of me to bury.”

Justice was stunned. “But it was just a few days ago—”

“I know. Then Tommy Tompkins asked for time off, and I had to give it to him, didn’t I? But Lewis Vidal wanted to know where you were and why you got so much time off when last year I wouldn’t let him have more than his earned vacation time.”

“Vidal’s a dick.” Justice had never liked the homophobic asshole.

“That may be so, but he had a point. I’m sorry. Maybe when things are straightened out with your granny, you can reapply. I can give you a glowing referral, too.”

“Thanks, I’d appreciate that. If you could fax it to me, please.” Justice wasn’t taking any chances. He’d just got screwed. On the one hand, he understood why the Chief just pulled a reversal, but on the other, he wished his boss—
former boss
—had grown a pair sometime in his fifty or so years of life.

Then again, the position of Chief was more politics than anything else at some points.

Justice made sure Warren knew where to send the fax to. He didn’t much care for anything the man had to say after that.

Now he was going to have to deal with finding another job. At least for the time being, he could concentrate on taking care of his mate. He had enough money saved that they could live frugally without either of them working again, but being idle wasn’t something he could do for long. And yes, he imagined he and Paul could have a hell of a lot of sex, but they’d have to do other things in life as well.

Besides, Justice had been raised with a good work ethic. It wasn’t all about the money. Being a productive part of society was good for a person, it helped build their self-esteem and show them the value of a job done right. Wasn’t the news full of stories about rich kids who ended up doing stupid shit, and never paying as steep a price for it as poorer folks did?

Justice turned towards the porch when he heard the murmur of voices and the soft thudding of footsteps. The door was opened and Viv came out, smiling at him.

“Hey there, big brother. Coming to Grandma’s for dinner tonight?”

Remembering Oscar’s vow to get everyone organised by this evening, and his invitation to come over and share a meal, Justice wasn’t sure what their plans were. “I’ll let you and Grandma know in a bit. Oscar wants to get some sort of patrols going, like they did back when Levi and Lyndon were being stalked by Lyndon’s father and brother.”

“Somehow, I’d forgotten about that,” Viv said. “Talk about a psycho dad. Just so you know, Grandma is going to end up coming down here and lecturing y’all if you both don’t visit her soon. See ya!”

Viv blew him a kiss as she bounded down the steps. Justice watched her leave. Down the way, Oscar and Josiah joined her, no doubt because there was safety in greater numbers.

Assured his sister was in good hands, Justice walked up the steps and across the porch. Paul met him by the door, opening his arms for a hug. There were the usual signs of strain around Paul’s eyes and mouth that were there after his therapy sessions.

“Anything you want to talk about?” Justice asked, not wanting to pry but willing to listen.

“Just more of the same. I didn’t think talking about everything would help, but it has. Vivian is going to be a successful therapist. She’s really knowledgeable and understanding.” He raised his head up and smirked. “Almost like a totally different person outside of her job.”

Justice snickered. His baby sister was something special. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

Paul tensed and averted his gaze. “Maybe later. I—Oh, what the hell. I’m not afraid of running into any of your family, per se, but the idea of doing so then having a panic attack? That scares the shit out of me.”

“They’re your family too, now,” Justice informed him, getting to one of the points he needed to. “We’re mates, Paul. That’s even more binding than human marriages. My family is your family, all of them, and vice versa. I’m not just saying that, either. Look at how they’re pulling together to ensure your safety, and mine, yes. Because they’re our family.”

“Well, now I feel like a jerk for being scared to meet them,” Paul mumbled. “I—if I didn’t know which one was the wolf shifter, I probably wouldn’t freak out, but I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

“Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Oscar came by a little while ago. He seems to think that if we met with him and Josiah privately for a meal, it might help you to see that Josiah isn’t anyone to fear.”

“I don’t think I could eat. They could come over?” Paul didn’t look entirely sure of his idea, but he ploughed on. “Come over and we could sit on the porch swing, and try that.”

“Oscar did say he’d tie Josiah up if it’d make you feel better.” Justice recalled his cousin’s lusty expression. “Pretty sure Oscar and Josiah would enjoy it.”

That got a laugh out of Paul. Justice loved hearing that sound. Now he was going to have to bring it to a halt, because he wouldn’t keep secrets from his mate.

Justice led Paul over to their porch swing and sat down. Paul joined him easily. “Chief Warren called and told me he was letting me go. Someone he’d refused extra time off to last year bitched about me being gone, so now I’m permanently gone.”

“Oh, Justice, I’m so sorry,” Paul said, cuddling to his side. “I’m just fucking everything up for you. Wait. Wait, that’s very self-centred and selfish and all the bad self-stuff. I’m sorry for that, too. This isn’t about me. Is there anything that can be done? Do you want to fight it?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Justice leaned his head back and stared up at the porch ceiling. He pushed with his feet and got the swing to moving. “I’d be treated like shit if I took on the department and won. I’d also never trust the chief again. Think I’d rather try a different department, maybe even the same one Dad worked at. If,” he added, “you want to move to Phoenix. If not, I’ll get on with some law enforcement agency somewhere.”

“Phoenix is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. I think it’d be as good of a place as any to live. I love the desert. Well, the pictures I’ve seen of it. I’m not really attached to any one place, Justice, and you shouldn’t have to give up the city you love.”

Justice did love Phoenix. His mom, dad and siblings were all there. He knew where all the best places to go were, and he was comfortable there. “Thank you. I’d like to stay there.”

He sighed, knowing there was one more point he needed to bring up. Justice rolled his neck, easing out a knotty feeling spot. “Are you afraid of me when I shift? Afraid to see me, I mean? Because those patrols Oscar wants started, those will be in shifted form. There’s going to be leopards and a cougar, and maybe even Josiah roaming the grounds, though I am betting Josiah stays out of sight. And there’s this wolf-shifter shaman coming, too, a guy named Remus. Supposed to be a really powerful man.”

“A shaman?” Paul twisted around and looked at him. “He…does he—is he like the Native American shamans?”

“No idea, honey, I’ve never met him. Now that I think about it, I have heard Grandma Marybeth mention him before. Remus. How could I forget that name?”

“It’s not a name I’ve ever heard before.”

Justice hadn’t either. “Well, at least I won’t be the only one here with a different kinda name.”

Paul placed his hand on Justice’s knee and gave it a little squeeze. “I like your name. And about your shifted form, I honestly don’t know. I guess I’d just have to see you like that.” He took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled. “Maybe you should do that really soon, just to see how I react.”

“How soon is really soon?” Justice asked.

“Now, maybe?” Paul got up and took a step back, closer to the door. “I’m not scared, seriously, but on the chance that I might lose my marbles, you should probably go out on the grass and do it. I’ll start with standing inside at the window and go from there.”

“Okay.” Justice let Paul get inside, then he rose, set his phone on the swing, and walked away until he was closer to the forest line than not. He stripped off his clothes, glad he hadn’t bothered with shoes. Paul stood at the window, watching him.

Justice knelt. He started shifting as soon as his hands hit the grass. The pain started in his spine and quickly spread out along his nerve endings. It was worse in the bones, that ache was deep and true.

Once he’d shifted, he dropped onto his belly and tried his best to look more like a housecat than the skilled predator he was. He flicked his tail and mewled, his gaze tangling with Paul’s.

Paul hadn’t run, but he was moving away from the window. That wasn’t good, not at all. Then Paul disappeared. Disappointed, his leopard yowled, pained at his mate’s rejection.

But the front door was opened, and Paul appeared in the doorway. He hadn’t fled after all. In fact, he didn’t look panicked. Wary, maybe, but not panicked.

They stared at each other until Paul took a step outside. Justice rolled over onto his back, writhing a bit to show his mate he wasn’t a threat. He watched Paul upside down. Paul took a few more steps until he was standing on the edge of the porch.

“Come a little closer,” Paul said quietly. There was only the faintest of tremors in his voice.

Justice rolled over again, and began what he hoped was a cute crawl towards his mate. Trying to wag his tail like a dog wasn’t working for him, so he quit trying as he inched closer.

Paul’s tentative smile was heart-warming. Justice wanted to see that every day, several times a day. He came closer, and still Paul didn’t back away.

Paul came down the steps after a minute or two. He waited, hand out, watching Justice.

There was no way his leopard was missing out on an opportunity for an ear-scratching. Justice moved a little quicker, almost giddy to feel his mate’s hands on him.

Then he was right there, waiting to take the last few steps. Paul licked his lips and closed the distance between him and Justice.

The instant Paul’s hand was on his fur, Justice became a purring fool. His eyelids drooped and he raised his head up eagerly.

“Someone’s a sweet, um, kitty,” Paul said as he scratched that perfect spot right behind Justice’s ear.

Oh damn, but it felt so much better when Paul scratched that itchy place. Justice couldn’t quite reach it, and he’d almost torn his ear off a time or two trying.

“Yeah, who’s a good kitty kitty?”

Justice stopped purring and opened his eyes. That was a little too patronising for his taste.

Paul raised his eyebrows. “What are you looking huffy about? Want me to stop scratching your ears?”

Justice mewled and closed his eyes. He wasn’t an idiot.

“I think I can handle this,” Paul told him.

Which was good, because Justice could handle being loved on in both of his forms.

Chapter Thirteen

The nightmare streaked through Paul’s entire being. It wasn’t just his head it messed with. He woke up, his own scream ringing in his ears. He gradually became aware of Justice’s presence, of his arms around Paul, holding him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, as he always did.

“You have nothing to apologise for.” Justice also gave his usual reply in that deep, sleep-rough voice.

“I’m sorry I woke you up.” Except he was also glad to have Justice touching him, holding him. “Mostly.”

Justice gave a deep rumble that Paul thought of as an internal laugh. It eased the remaining tension from Paul’s body, and he snuggled in closer to his mate.

They sat cuddled together in the bed until both fell back asleep. Morning came and they almost missed it. Paul pried open his eyes and had to blink for almost a full minute until his vision was clear enough that he could read the time on the alarm clock. It was after eleven.